Electrical connector



April 26, 1960 G. M. GIBSON 2,934,737

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

XgQ/WW 147 T O/P/V F X April 26, 1960 cs. M. GIBSON 2,934,737

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W (5. INVENTOR.

GERARD M-GlEvSON BYW United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Gerard M. Gibson, Darby, Pa.

. rApplicationvDecember 9, 1957, Serial No. 701,628

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-97 Thistinvention relates generally to electrical connectors andtmoregparticularlyto improvements in the type there- .of usedfor makingan electrical connection between electrical two-conductor lines, where, for instance, one of :saidwlines .isuconnected to an electrical supply outlet and ,thepther to electric appliance.

A principal ..object of the present invention is to provide --irnpr.oved forms ,of electrical connectors of this type :which .canibe made of a minimum number of parts and produced :at .a minimum cost and which permit coupling the conductorsto the connectors in a ready and simple manner.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide :such electrical connectors to which insulated electric wires may be easily and quickly connected without removal of the insulation from the wires, and which are operative .to hold the wires with great tenacity.

@ther :objects and advantages of the present invention will be: apparent more fully hereinafter, it being under- :stood,;of course, that the invention consists in the general combination, construction, location and relative arrange- :m'entof parts,..all.as.described in detail in the following specification, as .shownin the .accompanying drawings l-a'nd' as ifina'lly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a contact element and an anchor element for a connector plug constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of a connector plug constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the connector plug of Figure 2, as indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the jaws of the contact element clamped down upon the conductor.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the connector plug of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a contact element and an anchor element for an outlet receptacle constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view of an outlet receptacle constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a front view of the outlet receptacle of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the outlet receptacle of Figure 8, as indicated by line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the outlet receptacle of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, and particularlyto Figures 1 through 5, the exemplary connector plug constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention includes a member A made of molded insulating material, for example, phenolic resin. The

2,934,737 Patented Apr. 26, I960 lCC main body of said member, designated 10, is elongated and generally rectangular in transverse section. One end thereof is depressed to thereby form a cavity 11 that is surrounded by a wall 12 which extends about the outer periphery of said main body. This cavity 11 is provided with abottom surface that is stepped to provide a central area 13 and comparatively elevated opposite end areas 'or ledges 14-14. The main'body 10 has extending therefrom aneck 15 that is provided with a central bore 16 whichcommunicates with the cavity 11.

The connector plug is provided with a pair of contact elements B-B made of fiat sheet metal strips, each of which has acontact blade part 17, and a conductor gripping part 18 that extends laterally from one end of the contact blade part 17 at approximately a right angle thereto. This-conductor gripping part 18 is turned back upon itself to thereby form a jaw 19 extending laterally from the contact blade 17, a jaw connecting portion 20 extending laterally from the jaw 19 and a terminal jaw '21 extending laterally from the jaw connecting portion 20. The bends respectively intervening the contact blade part 17 and the jaw 19, the jaw 19 and the jaw connecting portion 20, and the jaw connecting portion 20 and the terminal jaw 21 are all approximately right angle bends. Fhe terminal jaw 21 is somewhat shorter than the jaw 19 and is thereby disposed in spaced relation :to the contact blade part 17. Disposed respectively upon opposite sides of the jaw 21 are a pair of prong formations 22-22 that are turned laterally from the jaw 21 toward the jaw 19, being located directly over a rounded area 23 that extends transversely of the jaw 19, both the rounded area 23' and the prong formations 22-22 being located intermediate thecontact blade portion 17 and the jaw connecting portion 20. a

The contact elements B-B are received by the cavity 11 and respectively seated firmly flat upon the ledges 14-14 at the bottom of the cavity. For anchoring each contact element in place, ascrew 24 is projected freely through registering apertures formed in the conductor gripping jaws 21 and 19, respectively designated 25 and 26, and threaded into a metal anchor 27 that is suitably embedded in the main body 10 of the member A. When the contact elements B-B are secured in place, the contact blades 17-17 extend out of the cavity 11 a substantial distance, being disposed respectively in spaced parallel planes located equidistantly from the central axis of the member A, on opposite sides thereof.

In the use-of the connector plug, a two-conductor line 28 is threaded through the neck 15 of the member A, and then the conductors, designated 29-29 are separated and connected respectively to the contact elements B-B. To effect a connection, the jaws 19 and 21 of the conductor gripping part 18 are opened by turning out the screw Now referring particularly to Figures 6 through :10, the

exemplary outlet receptacle constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention includes a two-part member C made of molded insulating material, for example, phenolic resin. This member C is elongated and generally rectangular in transverse section. The fore part of the member C, designated 30, is provided with a vertically spaced pair of longitudinally extending parallel passages 31-31 that are The outlet receptacle is provided with a pair of contact elements DD made of flat sheet metal strips, each of which has a contact blade part 35, and a conductor gripping part 36. The latter is provided with mutually overlying jaws 37 and 38 and a jaw connecting portion 39.

The terminal .jaw 38 is provided with prong formations 40-40, while the underlying jaw 37 is provided with a rounded area '41. The contact elements D-D are identical with the contact elements BB of the connector plug described hereinbefore, except that each contact blade part 35 is connected to the jaw 37 by a lateral extension 42 and thereby disposed in oflfset parallel relation to the jaw 37.

The contact elements D-D are received respectively by the recesses 33-33 and are respectively seated firmly with the jaws 37-37 flat upon the bottoms of the recesses, designated 43-43. For anchoring the contact elements in place, screws 24 and anchors 27 are utilized, as in the case of the contact elements B. When a contact element D is anchored in place, the portion 42 thereof extends through the associated passage 34 and the contact blade 35 extends into the passage 31, being disposed flat against one wall of the passage and spaced from the opposed wall of the passage.

In the use of the outlet receptacle, a two-conductor line 44 is run into a wall box 45. Then the conductors 46-46 are separated and respectively connected to the contact elements D-D, in the manner already described :for connecting the conductors 29-29 to the contact elements B-B. Finally, the outlet receptacle is mounted in the box 45 through the medium of a suitable bracket 47.

It will be understood that the electrical connector of the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles of the invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claim.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

An electrical connector comprising a rigid molded body of insulating material, a pair of identical contact elements made of strip metal and carried by said body of insulating material, each of said contact elements including a contact blade part at one end thereof adapted for making electrical contact with another contact blade, and a conductor gripping part at the opposite end thereof having a terminal portion turned back upon itself to thereby form a pair of jaws inherently biased open and adapted for receiving therebetween an insulated conductor, said jaws being disposed in mutually overlying spaced relation with one of them seated flat against said insulating body, said jaws being further respectively provided with a conductor-receiving seat and prongs directedto- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,200,825 Fenety -3. Oct; 10,1916 1,674,246 Gaynor June 19, 1928 1,751,299 Wermine Mar. 18, 1930 1,827,565 De Reamer Oct. 13, 1931 1,877,611 Stieglitz Sept. 13, 1932 2,515,105 Weisberg July 11, 1950 2,525,123 Frank Oct. 10, 1950 2,666,908

Klostermann Jan. 19, 1954 

